The Singapore Police Force (SPF), Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), and Government Technology Agency of Singapore (GovTech Singapore) are working with industry partners to implement new measures against scam mules.
The authorities will restrict their access to facilities, such as financial, telecommunications and Singpass/Corppass services, which could be exploited to facilitate scams.
Mule bank accounts are used to electronically move the scam monies between different banks, and out of the country, and make it difficult for the authorities to trace them. Today, internet banking and PayNow are the primary methods for moving scam monies, in addition to card-based transactions and withdrawal of cash from Automated Teller Machines (ATMs). Scammers are also increasingly exploiting the anonymity features of cryptocurrency transactions to move scam monies.
Local phone lines are coveted by scammers.They use the lines to contact potential victims, who are more likely to respond because the call or text is from a local number, given that Singaporeans now are more suspicious of calls or texts from foreign phone numbers. The local lines are also used by scammers to register social media accounts, through which they reach out to potential victims.
Nearly 15% of telephone line subscribers in 2025 who allowed their subscribed lines to be used for scams, are repeat mule offenders, with over 11,000 lines subscribed. In some instances, mules under investigation continued to apply for new telephone lines and sell them to scammers. The Police have also observed an increase in scam lines that are registered by corporate entities.
Under the new facility restriction framework, scam mules may face the following restrictions (list is non-exhaustive) on access to financial, telecommunications, and Singpass/Corppass services:
- Restrictions on access to banking services that could be used to move scam monies, that is, digital banking services (including Internet banking and mobile banking), card-based transactions, and ATM services;
- Prohibition on the subscription of new mobile lines; and
- Restrictions on access to existing Corppass accounts (if any) and the use of Singpass accounts to register for services that are at higher risk of being exploited for scams (e.g., for bank account opening).
The specific restrictions to be imposed and the duration of the restrictions will be calibrated based on the risks posed by the scam mule, taking into consideration basic financial and communication needs.
The restrictions may be imposed on the following groups:
- Persons who have been warned, issued with composition sums, prosecuted, or convicted of mule-related offences;
- Persons under investigation for mule-related offences and are assessed to be at risk of further facilitating scams.
The framework will be implemented in phases with effect from October 2025, starting with the restrictions on access to banking services and prohibition on subscription of new mobile lines. Affected scam mules – those who had previously been dealt with for mule-related offences, and those still under investigation – will be notified by SPF, who will also handle appeals against the restrictions. The restrictions on Corppass and Singpass will take effect later.
Beyond these restrictions, sentencing advisory guidelines that recommend enhanced penalties for offenders who commit scam-related offences have been issued. Mules will face more severe penalties, including imprisonment.
